Shell nosing apparatus



May 29, 1962 Original Filed Dec. 9, 1953 G. A. LYON SHELL NOSING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 17711 -52 IZQI'T George Alberz L901;

May 29, 1962 G. A. LYON v 3,036,360

SHELL NOSING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 9, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I27 FE '77227 2- George Albert 5027 3,636,360 SHELL NGSING APPARATUS George Albert Lyon, Detroit, Mich, msignor to Lyon Incorporated, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Deiaware Griginal application Dec. 9, 1953, Ser. No. 397,248 now Patent No. 2,958,115, dated Nov. 1, 1969.. Divided and this application May 9, 196%, Ser. No. 27,714

3 Ciairns. (ill. 21.21)

The present invention relates to apparatus for nosing in large drawn metallic shells such as may be used for ordnance purposes and the like.

This application is a division of my pending application Serial No. 397,248 filed December 9, 1953, 'now Patent 2,958,115.

An important object of the present invention is to provide improved apparatus for nosing large size shells having thin tubular walls.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for taper-nosing thin wall, thickened nose drawn steel shells without collapsing the thin walls during the nosing operation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view through a drawn shell and nosing apparatus embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the apparatus and shell of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG- URE l but showing the apparatus and the shell at the completion of the nosing stroke; and

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional detail view taken substantially on the line IVIV of FIGURE 3.

According to the present invention, a drawn shell which may be several feet in length and of proportionate diameter has a thickened bottom wall 13, a thinly drawn tubular wall 19 and a thickened initially externally cylindrical nose end portion 25. The lower portion of the wall 19 is back tapered as at 24.

As a final step in shaping of the shell 15 it is placed in nosing apparatus including a die structure having means for supporting the base end portion of the shell 15 and comprising a base member 27 to which is attached a shell base supporting block 28 having there-in a cavity 29 shaped complementary to the back tapered portion 24 of the shell wall 19. In the bottom portion of the cavity 29 is a stripper plunger 29a having attached to the lower end portion thereof an actuating rod 30 extending reciprocably through a bore 31 in the base member 27. Connection of the operating rod 30 to the stripper plunger 29a is effected through the medium of a reduced diameter head boss 32 on the rod extending into a complementary press-fit bore in the base of the plunger, with access to the tip of the head boss by a punch-out tool through an axial bore 33 opening through the top of the plunger 29a and norm-ally closed by a screw plug 34. At its base end the plunger 2% normally rests solidly on the base member 27 so as solidly to support the headed base wall 13 of the shell to the external contour of which the tip or head end of the plunger 29a is complementary in shape. A predetermined range of stripping reciprocation of the plunger 29a is enabled between opposing axially directed limit shoulders 34a and 35 on respectively the plunger and the base block 28 Within which the plunger is mounted.

Operatively cooperable in relatively reciprocable rela- 3,@3h,3h Patented May 29, 1962 tion with the base block 28 is a nosing die block 37 supported by a head member 38 which may be operatively related to the ram of a press. Within the nosing block '37 is a nosing cavity 39 having the tapered shape to which it is desired finally to form the nose of the shell 15. Reciprocably mounted in normally retracted position at the tip or upper end of the cavity 39 is a stripper punch 4t) having a stem 41 projecting upwardly reciprocably through the head member 38 and carrying an upper or head end collar or head block 42. A coiled compression spring 43 thrusting against the underside of the head 42 and at its opposite end within a recess 44 in the head member 33 about the stem 41 normally biases the plunger 40 into retracted position but is yieldable upon engagement of the head 42 with a stop (not shown) to enable projection of the stripping plunger 49 into the cavity 39 for ejecting the nosed shell therefrom.

In operation, the shell 15 is centered between the base block 28 and the nosing die 37 as seen in FIG. 1, and then nosing die and base block are relatively reciprocably closed toward one another, as for example, by driving of the nosing die toward the base block to efiect driving of the thickened nose portion 25 of the shell 15 into the nosing cavity 39 whereby the shell is taper nosed as shown in FIG. 3. By the contraction thus effected, the tapered nose portion of the shell is provided with substantially increased wall thickness attaining maximum thickness at the nose tip of the shell. This affords adequate material for subsequent internal machining and threading to receive a fuse tip or plug or armor piercing point on the head. At the conclusion of the nosing operation, the dies are separated, the stripper plunger 29a ejecting the shell from the base 28, and the stripper plunger 4% acting, after the shell has been carried by the nosing die '37 away from the base 2% to strip and eject the shell from the nosing die.

During the nosing operation, not only is radially inward compression and contraction of the nose portion 25 of the shell effected, but a considerable axial compression force is applied in driving the nose portion of the shell into the nosing cavity 39. Since the major extent of the Wall 19 of the shell is comparatively quite thin, the axial compression force tends to cause buckling of the side wall. In the approximately first half of the nosing stroke of the nosing die assembly, while the nose portion 25 of the shell is moving into the larger gradually tapering portion of the nosing cavity 39, the axial compression force is reasonably moderate since resistance of the nose material of the shell to contraction is still moderate. However, maximum compression force is exerted in the last portion of the nosing stroke and it is at this time that the tendency toward buckling of the side wall 19 of the shell is greatest.

According to the present invention, the sidewall 19 is supported against buckling during the greatest compression strain thereon during nosing. To this end, the base block 28 and the nosing die 37 are provided with complementary cooperatively related, relatively axially movable alternating respective anti-buckling fingers 45 and 47 which become operative during the last portion of the nosing stroke of the die asseembly and by their symmetrical radial full external support of the side wall throughout the potential buckling zone as the nosing operation progresses to a conclusion prevent lateral or radial outward buckling of the shell. On inspection of PEG. 4 it will be observed that the anti-buckling fingers 45 and 47 have their major transverse extent radial relative to the shell so that they are strongly resistant to radial outward force exerted thereagainst by the shell Wall 19.

Additional reinforcement against radially outward displacement of the fingers 45 and 47 is afforded by a reinforcing annulus collar 48 which may, for convenience, be mounted about the fingers 47 of the nosing die and secured to the nosing die as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. Air p'ressure'relief through the reinforcing ring 48 is afforded through one or more exhaust ports 49 therethrough preferably adjacent to the roots of the fingers 47.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be efifected Without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

'1'. In a shell nosing apparatus, a base support for a shell, 21 nosing die relatively reciprocably disposed relative to the base support and having a nosing cavity therein, said cavity being adapted to nose a shell casing supported in said base support, and means on said base support and on said nosing die cooperable during nosing cooperation of said base support and said nosing die to supa port the shell against buckling, said means comprising a series of cooperating longitudinally extending supporting fingers disposed symmetrically for encompassing the Wall of a shell being nosed, with certain fingers of the series the shell against buckling, said means comprising a series of cooperating longitudinally extending supporting fingers disposed symmetrically for encompassing the wall of a carried by the'nose die and other fingers'of the series shell being nosed, with certain of the fingers comprising a set carried by the nosing die and other of the fingers comprising a set carried by the base support, and one of saidsets of fingers having a reinforcing annulus thereabout.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 271,178 Wiesel Ian. 23, 1883 346,213 Morse July 27, 1886 501,547 Thomson July 18, 1893 977,639 Lachman Dec. 6, 1910 1,332,798 Brown Mar. 2, 1920 2,067,568 Grunthal Jan. 12, 1937 2,357,110 Heineman Aug. 29, 1944 2,404,304 Layton July 16, 1946 2,515,841 Stuart July 18, 1950 2,958,116 Lyon Nov. 1, 1960 

